Container for a set of socket wrenches



May 3o, 195o D. D. KANE 2,509,507

CONTAINER FOR A SET 0F SOCKET wRENcHEs Filed Aug. 5, 1946 Z6 4A a5 Patented May 30, 1950 CONTAINER FOR SET 0F SOCKET WRENCHES David D. Kane, EChicago, Ill. Application August 5,194.6,"SeiialNo.`588,5il7

(Cl. I V20G-46) 6 Claims.

`This `inverition relates to an improved `c0141;- itainer for'a "set of rightfan'gled hexagonal socket wrenches, known thetradeas an Allen wrench set.

Itis the object `of the present invention to provide a tool box 'foraset of graduated hex agonalsocket wrenches which is ruggedand eco nomical in `construction"and which is adapted `to accommodate a plurality of hexagonal wrenches in la compact nested relationship so that the individual wrenchesare "securely held in place and wherefrom they are adapted to be conveniently selected for use in order to facilitate their handling and to prevent their misplacement and pos- `It is a further objectof the present invention "to provide an iniproved package of a set of hexset of Allen wrenches in a container formed of a bottom and a lid hingedthereto, the former be- 'ing provided with a shelf for supporting the wrenohes of graduated sizes, with spacers for maintaining the wrenches in aligned and nested position, while keeping them Separated, with parts of the wrenches protruding from the box to a. slight extent in order to facilitate their removal therefrom as well as permitting a clear view of the wrenches from outside of the receptacle. The hinged `lid is provided with means cooperating with the wrench set to maintain the completeset of wrenches securely in place on the 'shelf within the body of the receptacle without any undue rattling.

Other objects and purposes will appear from "the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved container "forthe set of right-angled hexagonal wrenches in accordance with 'the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container in `open position with some of the wrenches within the container; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view along line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, thelmproved container for a set of Allen wrenches A is formed of a box-like receptacle I with a lid or cover 2 therefor, hinged along one edge thereof. The box is preferably formed of Sheet metal consisting of a base Il] with ends II and I2, and edges I3 and I4 pressed -up therefrom. The lid 2 is hinged to the top of `edge I4 and the opposite edge I3 is formed of a main portion and an auxiliary portion 2|] extend- `ing angularlythereto and converging towards the edge M so that theend I2 is shorter than the end II. The edges and ends, as well as the in- 2 olined face 20,are bent at right angles from the plane of the sheet I0 and it is only necessary that the meeting'ed'ges of these surfaces bein fcontiguous relationship.

The lid 2- has likewise pressed from the face 'thereof the ends 2l and `22 and the front edge formed 1of main portion 25 and the auxiliaryan- *gwular portion 23 to overlie respectively the `ends II and I2 and edge portions I3 and ZUI of the wreceptacle I. Thehinged edgeof the lid opposite the edge portions 23and 25 is turned inwardlyat *the fluidi-portion thereof, `as shown at 35, to form acylindr-ical opening fora pintle 26 cooperating withthe portions 24 and726whch are turned outwardly from the opposite `ends ofthe top of the Ledge ll of the receptacle I. This arrangement is clearly shown `in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, providing an economical construction for pivotally mounting the lid 2 upon one edge of the receptacle I.

A shelf I5 is tt'ed in the receptacle I to provide an inclined support for the set of socket wrenches therein, each havingwa short and a long "`arm. This shelf is pressed into `the base `recep- "tacle and securely held therein by the series of 'vertical walls or flanges `extending therefrom. "The flange I6 adjacent the edge I4 extends `up- "wardly from the shelf, while the flange I1 adjacent the edge I3* extends downwardly therefrom (Fig. 4). Furthermore, the vertical flanges "I8 and I9 adjacent the end walls II and I 2 extend "upwardly from the face of the shelf I5, as "shown in Figs. 2 to 4, and serve to retain the shelf in the receptacle without any auxiliary retaining means. As shown in the drawings, it is not necessary that the anges extend completely 'across the respective walls, and the fitting thereof into the body of the receptacle is facilitated by the provision of "the cut-out portions 4U at the rectangular corners thereof.

The shelf I5 is provided with three sets of spacers 3E, 37 and 38, to maintain the individual n"wrenches in aligned and nested relationship.

The set of spacers 36 and 31 extend in parallel `to the long arms of the right-angled wrenches,

while the spacers 38 extend in parallel to the `shortarms of the wrenches. While a set of ten wrenchesis shown in the drawings, more or less than this number may be included in the set. `The set shown in the drawings includes the follbwiris sizes: ist. 1A, slr. 1%, sf", Va. zrf, 5/64'andif%.

The inclination of the shelf I5 is such as to ac fcinmodate the `largest wrench along the edge f the box adjacent the l'iin'ge 2t and end 12, and the lsmallest `wrench at the side mostdistant therefrom. Thetop edge!! of the face 2U is inclined corresponding tothe inclinationof the shelf I5 assho'wn in Fig. 2. Likewisethe bottom edge d'2 of the face 23 of the lid is inclined in the opposite direction to conne between Vtheedges 4I and. 42 the graduated set "of Wrenches, the short a'ims'of which protrude to a slight extent from the container. As shown in Fig. 2, the inclination 6i" theedge 42 is lesser than that of the edge 4I.

In order to retain the wrenches in place and to prevent their rattling when the container is closed, depressions 30 and 3l of tear-drop conguration are pressed in the top of the lid which present depressions at the inner face thereof at approximately the line of spacers 36 and 31, to confine the wrenches in place. By virtue of the tear-drop conguration of the depressions, these are of greater depth at the side of the box remote from the hinge, corresponding in eiiectiveness to the inclination of the edge 42 of the face 23 in the cover.

The projection of a small part of the short arms of the right-angled wrenches beyond the inclined edge of the box permits a convenient removal therefrom by a tilting or lifting movement, and in addition provides a convenient check on the completeness of the set even when the container is inrclosed condition as is obvious from a glance at the front of the box shown in Fig. 2. While the edges and ends pressed from the plane of lid 2 are shown in separated condition in order to overlap the corresponding edges and ends of the base receptacle, they may be continuous if so desired. The same is true of the upstanding lapplied as a unit to the upper or lower surface of the shelf I5.

While I have described my invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specic manner for purposes of illustration, it

should. be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modiiications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A container for a set of hexagonal socket Wrenches of graduated sizes comprising a receptacle and a lid hinged thereto along one edge thereof between two ends of said receptacle, said receptacle having the edge opposite said firstmentioned edge formed of two portions, one main portion extending in parallel to said first-mentioned edge and an auxiliary portion disposed angularly with respect thereto and converging towards said first-mentioned edge to form the end adjacent thereto shorter than the opposite edge, said receptacle having an inclined plane shelf therein overlying the base of said receptacle and extending upwardly from said iirst-mentioned edge towards the top of said receptacle at the opposite edge, and said lid overlying said receptacle to close the same around the complete perimeter thereof with the exception of said auxiliary portion, wherefrom are adapted to protrude the arms of said set of socket wrenches.

2. A container for a set of right-angled hexagonal socket wrenches of graduated sizes each havlng a long and short arm, comprising a receptacle and a lid hinged thereto along one edge thereof between two ends of said receptacle, said receptacle having the edge opposite said rst-mentioned edge formed of two portions, one main portion extending in parallel to said first-mentioned edge and an auxiliary portion disposed angularly with respect thereto and converging towards said first-mentioned edge to form the end adjacent thereto shorter than the opposite end, said receptacle having an inclined plane shelf therein overlying the base of said receptacle and extending upwardly from said first-mentioned edge towards the top of said receptacle at the opposite edge, and spacers on said shelf for spacing and accommodating the socket Wrenches on said shelf starting with the largest adjacent to said first-mentioned edge and shorter end, to the smallest adjacent to the opposite edge, said lid overlying said receptacle to close the same around the complete perimeter thereof with the exception of said auxiliary portion, wherefrom are adapted to protrude the short arms of said set of socket wrenches.

3. A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein the upstanding Wall of said receptacle as well as the down-turned wall of said lid at said auxiliary portion are tapered to form an opening of decreasing width from the end to accommodate the graduated sizes of the short arms of the socket wrenches protruding therefrom.

4. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein are provided two sets of spacers parallel to said rst-mentioned edge at two displaced points therealong and a single set of spacers parallel and in proximity to the short end of the receptacle.

5. A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein are provided two sets of spacers parallel to said rst-mentioned edge at two displaced points Atherealong and a single set of spacers parallel and in proximity to the short end of the receptacle, and said lid is provided with a pair of depressions of varying depth on its outer face to form corresponding protuberances on its inner face and overlying said two sets of spacers to press the set of Wrenches against said shelf to prevent rattling thereof.

6, A wrench set comprising a plurality of socket wrenches of graduated sizes, each composed of a long arm and a short arm extending at right angles thereto, and a container therefor, said container comprising a receptacle and a lid hinged thereto along one edge thereof between two ends of said receptacie, said receptacle having the edge opposite said nist-mentioned edge formed of two portions, one main portion extending in parallel to said nist-mentioned edge and an auxiliary portion disposed angularly with respect thereto and converging towards said first-mentioned edge to form the end adjacent thereto shorter than the opposite end, said receptacle having an inclined shelf therein extending upwardly from the base of said receptacle at said first-mentioned edge towards the top of said receptacle at the opposite edge, and spacers on said shehc for spacing and accommodating the socket wrenches on said shelf starting with the largest adjacent tosaid iirst-rnentioned edge and shorter end, to the smallest adjacent to the opposite edge, said lid overlying said receptacle to close the same around the complete perimeter thereof with the exception of said auxiliary portion, wherefrom are adapted to protrude the short arms of said set of socket wrenches,

DAVID D. KANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 423,833 Stiveson et al Mar. 18, 1890 642,409 Yancey Jan. 30, 1900 1,460,499 Plumb July 3, 1923 Y 1,944,606 Little Jan. 23, 1934 2,236,333 Cowles Mar. 25, 1941 

